This is the error that was logged:
Setting up openssh-server (1:7.2p2-4ubuntu2.8) ...
Unsafe symlinks encountered in /var/run/sshd, refusing.
Job for ssh.service failed because the control process exited with error code. See "systemctl status ssh.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
invoke-rc.d: initscript ssh, action "restart" failed.
● ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/ssh.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: activating (auto-restart) (Result: exit-code) since Mon 2019-03-18 13:38:42 UTC; 31ms ago
Process: 14891 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/sshd -t [0;1;31m(code=exited, status=255)[0m
Mar 18 13:38:42 HMNRHSECP006 systemd[1]: [0;1;31mFailed to start OpenBSD Secure Shel....[0m
Mar 18 13:38:42 HMNRHSECP006 systemd[1]: [0;1;39mssh.service: Unit entered failed state.[0m
Mar 18 13:38:42 HMNRHSECP006 systemd[1]: [0;1;39mssh.service: Failed with result 'ex....[0m
Hint: Some lines were ellipsized, use -l to show in full.
dpkg: error processing package openssh-server (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Of note, I see this line:
Unsafe symlinks encountered in /var/run/sshd, refusing.
But no more details were given.
Could you please attach /var/log/syslog, /var/log/auth.log and the output of "sudo systemctl status -l ssh"? You can trim the logfiles to cover just March 18th.
Thanks for filing this bug in Ubuntu.
This is the error that was logged: 4ubuntu2. 8) ... system/ ssh.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled) /usr/sbin/ sshd -t [0;1;31m( code=exited, status=255)[0m
Setting up openssh-server (1:7.2p2-
Unsafe symlinks encountered in /var/run/sshd, refusing.
Job for ssh.service failed because the control process exited with error code. See "systemctl status ssh.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.
invoke-rc.d: initscript ssh, action "restart" failed.
● ssh.service - OpenBSD Secure Shell server
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/
Active: activating (auto-restart) (Result: exit-code) since Mon 2019-03-18 13:38:42 UTC; 31ms ago
Process: 14891 ExecStartPre=
Mar 18 13:38:42 HMNRHSECP006 systemd[1]: [0;1;31mFailed to start OpenBSD Secure Shel....[0m service: Unit entered failed state.[0m service: Failed with result 'ex....[0m
Mar 18 13:38:42 HMNRHSECP006 systemd[1]: [0;1;39mssh.
Mar 18 13:38:42 HMNRHSECP006 systemd[1]: [0;1;39mssh.
Hint: Some lines were ellipsized, use -l to show in full.
dpkg: error processing package openssh-server (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Of note, I see this line:
Unsafe symlinks encountered in /var/run/sshd, refusing.
But no more details were given.
Could you please attach /var/log/syslog, /var/log/auth.log and the output of "sudo systemctl status -l ssh"? You can trim the logfiles to cover just March 18th.